BSNL's 3G power for highway

TECH ROAD: BSNL chief general manager KK Thakur addresses reporters in Jamshedpur on Monday. Picture by Bhola Prasad



Jamshedpur: Telecom major Bharat Sanchar Nigam has decided to strengthen its 3G coverage on NH-33 between here and Ranchi.

Addressing a news meet at the BSNL office in Golmuri on Monday after a new telephone exchange was launched at Pardih in Mango, chief general manager K.K. Thakur said they were coming up with new 3G base transceiver stations (BTS) and would also augment some of the existing 2G BTS between the two destinations. The locations where the 3G towers are being installed include Chakulia, Chandil, Kandra and Chowka.

"Those travelling between Ranchi and Jamshedpur will get better connectivity. The installation process is underway. We will be able to provide better service on the highway in two months," Thakur said.

On rural connectivity, he said Wi-Fi services were being started at 24 out of the 27 earmarked locations. These 24 sites, including Kandra, Kuchai and Kolebira, come under Jamshedpur Secondary Switching Area or SSA.

General manager of Jamshedpur SSA Sanjiv Verma, who was present at the news meet, said they had 1.02 lakh customers in the financial year 2017-18 against 86,850 in 2016-17, a growth of more than 17 per cent.

Verma said to strengthen both voice and data connectivity, they would come up with another 18 new 3G base transceiver stations.